Reef Report
Saturday, August 21
Key Largo, Rainbow Reef
Dive 1 - Banana Patch Reef Seas 1', depth 25', vis 30', some
current, water temp 85 degrees.
To film some of the under water scenes in the 1965 movie, Thunderball, starring Sean Connery, the
producers built a platform on this reef. Hurricanes knocked it down, but today much of the
scaffolding and structure is still there, with many coral and sponges encrusting the wreck. Sightings
included - massive swarms of sergeant major fish, Bermuda chub, black grouper, cowfish, blue parrots,
clusters of staghorn coral.
Dive 2 - Horseshoe reef Seas 2', depth 20'. vis 30', no current, water
temp 85 degrees.
Sightings included - swim-throughs with bait balls of silverside minnows, bar jack, blue-runners,
mutton snapper, grouper, (were all attacking, causing a swirling of fast action) angel fish, sergeant major fish,
nurse shark, star corals, blue, red, orange, purple and yellow sponges adorned the caves.
-- Active Divers President and Safety Officer Lon Von Lintel
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